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Luke Watson: against the tide

Your driving licence could expire while you read what South African rugby fans have written about Luke Watson. Most have been uncomplimentary, some are supportive, but a few profess hatred and refer to him as Puke Watson. And yet what the fans say seems relatively harmless compared with a story about Watson told by South Africa's captain, John Smit, in his recently published autobiography, Captain In The Cauldron.

Smit tells of a speech to the Springbok players last year before a home Tri-Nations match against Australia, during which the captain accused Watson of destroying morale within the squad. Given this was the day of the game and that the entire 23-player match-day squad, including Watson, stood in front of him, it was quite an attack by Smit.

You wonder how Watson felt as he listened to the Springbok skipper accuse him of being a divisive force within the squad and